White Shepherd Dog
Draft — this profile is still being checked.
At a glance
The White Shepherd is a direct descendant of the German Shepherd Dog: white was accepted in von Stephanitz's original working stock, fell out of favour in the late 1930s, and the breeders who kept breeding the white dogs — excluded from most German Shepherd programmes — produced a distinct type and eventually a separate breed, recognised by UKC in 1999. It is a medium-sized, well-balanced, muscular dog of about 56–66 cm and 27–39 kg, slightly longer than tall, with a pure white medium-length double coat, erect ears and a low-set sabre tail. The UKC standard describes a self-confident, poised dog that shows both herding and protective instincts, open and friendly with those it knows and observant but not apprehensive with strangers. The UKC recognised the White Shepherd as its own breed on 14 April 1999. The FCI's parallel breed, developed from American and Canadian white shepherds exported to Switzerland, is the White Swiss Shepherd Dog (standard 347) — the catalogue carries that separately and its figures differ.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 55.9–66cm |
| Weight | 27.2–38.6kg |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Double coat |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
No published breed-specific screening
The UKC breed standard is the only kennel-club document found for this breed and it does not discuss health; no parent-club health page or breed-specific veterinary study was located. Ask your vet what routine screening suits a dog of this size and job.
Behaviour
Self-confident, poised, aloof but not apprehensive
The UKC standard says the White Shepherd has a distinct personality marked by self-confidence: poised, but when the situation demands, eager and alert and ready to serve in any capacity. White Shepherds demonstrate both herding and protective instincts; with those he knows the dog is open and friendly, and with strangers he is observant and may be somewhat aloof but not apprehensive. Timidity in a mature dog or aggressive behaviour is not typical of the breed and is to be severely penalised.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
United Kennel Club — White Shepherd breed standard
UKC Herding Dog Group standard: how the white German Shepherd Dogs became a separate breed, characteristics, the double coat, and ideal height and weight (males 25 in / 75–85 lb, females 23 in / 60–70 lb, ±1 in).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]White Shepherd — Official UKC Breed Standard — United Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
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Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.